No reason was given for the departure in an announcement by police this afternoon (see below). The announcement itself, police say, was in response to "an inquiry from the media."

Harris, who will remain as police chief, is two years past his three-year appointment on the board -- maybe it was just time to go. Perhaps the duties were onerous and too time-consuming for the city's busy "public safety manager," Harris' official title.

But the reason can't be that boring, can it? Maybe this involved some kind of squabble with other board members, who include Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, Department of Public Safety Director Roger Vanderpool, Gila County Sheriff John Armer and other law enforcement top dogs. Judging by the lineup of board members, membership seems to be as much about prestige as working to ensure quality among the state's law officers.

Text of Phoenix PD statement below:

City of Phoenix Public Safety Manager Jack Harris has served faithfully on the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) for a number of years. AZPOST establishes uniformity in peace officer selection, recruitment, retention and training standards, and provides curriculum and standards for all certified law enforcement training facilities throughout the state of Arizona. Currently, the Board provides services to approximately 170 law enforcement agencies encompassing over 16,000 sworn peace officers, 9,000 correctional service officers, and 16 academies.

After nearly five years in what was a three-year appointment, Public Safety Manager Harris has voluntarily stepped down from the AZPOST Board. He continues to serve on the AZPOST Financial Committee and will remain an active supporter of AZPOST. In addition, officers, supervisors and managers within the Phoenix Police Department will continue to serve on the various AZPOST committees and as subject matter experts to provide guidance and maintain valuable partnerships with the other law enforcement agencies throughout the state.

Jack Harris will continue to serve the community as the Public Safety Manager for the City of Phoenix.